What Motorists Should Know to Drive a Car in Krakow

Poland
has right-hand traffic, so when driving a vehicle in
Krakow
please keep to the right side of the street. Traffic signs and
rules generally match those in force elsewhere in the
continental part of the European Union.

Fastening seatbelts in the front as well as in the rear of
the car is mandatory. Motorists have to drive always with
the headlights on. Drivers must not use cellphones unless
they employ a hands-free set.

The maximum traffic fine amounts to 2,000 zlotys. Driving
with as little blood alcohol count as 0.2 percent – result
of a small glass of beer – is drunk driving in Poland and a
criminal offence.

Speed limits

Unless indicated otherwise by an appropriate road sign, the
speed limit in built-up areas is 50km/h from 5 a.m. to 11
p.m. and 60km/h between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Practically
entire Krakow within the city limits falls into this
category. The beginning of a built-up area is marked with a
white rectangular sign with the name of the town (sometimes
replaced with a symbol) in black and it ends with a similar
sign with a red diagonal stripe.
The speed limit on dual carriageways and on motorways is
120km/h and 140km/h respectively.
Otherwise it’s 90 km/h.

Driver’s license

Citizens of the EU need the European document or equivalent.
Other aliens are allowed to use their homeland driver’s
licenses or international driving permits within six months
from the date of entry to Poland stamped on the passport.
Foreign drivers domiciled outside the EU should always carry
both the license and the passport with them.

Parking in Krakow

Practically anywhere in the city it may prove tricky to find
a convenient parking place so
public transport is often the easy option for
local motorists. And parking on the streets in the center of
Krakow (Zone C, see the map above) is paid between 10 a.m.
and 8 p.m. on weekdays. Parking meters, at
least one per street or the length of a block, sell
twenty-minutes tickets for one zloty, one-hour tickets for
three zloties, two-hour ones for 6.5 zloty, while a
three-hour ticket costs 10.6 zloty (you'd better keep exact
money as the machines don't give the change).

Note:
the purchased ticket should be left on view behind the
windshield of a parked car.

In Poland 'no parking' sign applies also to the sidewalk
unless there is a notice below that reads 'Nie dotyczy
chodnika".

There is a spacious underground car park in the Old Town
central area beneath Plac Na Groblach square, next to
Sheraton Krakow
hotel near the
Wawel Royal Castle, where an hour of parking costs an
equivalent of about one euro. Somewhat cheaper is a
subterranean parking garage in front of the main hall of the
Krakow National Museum at Aleja Mickiewicza avenue.